2. Advice from Friends

SR Corp Headquarters, Central Jakarta.

The Jakarta sky that afternoon looked overcast through the tall glass windows framing Sebastian Ronaldo’s luxurious office. The twenty nine year old man sat in his executive chair, wearing a white shirt with a slightly loosened dark gray tie. His laptop was open in front of him, but his eyes stared blankly at the screen. His fingers tapped against the mahogany desk, he was restless.

The room was very quiet. Only the ticking of the wall clock and the occasional hum of the central air conditioning could be heard. His personal assistant had left long ago. Outside, employees were busy chasing deadlines. But Sebastian was lost in his own thoughts.

He lowered his head and rubbed his face.

Sebastian whispered to himself,

“Marriage? And arranged? This is crazy, like some old soap opera!”

Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door.

Samuel, his best friend, appeared from behind the door wearing a navy blue suit and a wide smile.

“Hey, Bro, why are you daydreaming like someone who just got dumped by an investor?”

Sebastian gave a faint smile.

“If it were an investor, I could still negotiate. This time, it feels like I’m about to lose my own life purpose.”

“Ha-ha-ha.”

Samuel laughed and walked into the room, followed by a tall man with glasses, calm and authoritative, Rayner Brett, their friend who was also the CEO of a major technology company.

Rayner placed his phone on Sebastian’s desk.

“What’s wrong with you? You look so stressed. At this hour, you’re usually discussing mergers or expansion, not daydreaming like a teenager who just got dumped.”

Sebastian let out a long sigh and leaned back in his chair.

“My dad wants to set me up with a girl.”

The room fell silent instantly. Samuel raised an eyebrow, while Rayner chuckled softly.

“He-he-he.”

“Wow! Congratulations, Bro. You won’t be single anymore then. When are you meeting her?” Samuel asked curiously.

Sebastian answered weakly,

“Yeah, this weekend. She’s the daughter of my dad’s business colleague. Kind, polite, well educated, basically all the classic arranged marriage descriptions.”

Rayner smiled wisely.

“And you object to being set up?”

Sebastian nodded slowly.

“Not because of the girl, but because of the method. I want to get married for love, not because of a family arrangement.”

Samuel, who was sitting at the edge of the desk, looked at him seriously.

“Bro, do you realize you’re almost in your thirties? You’re a CEO, busy every day. Honestly, when was the last time you actually went on a real date with a girl?”

Sebastian sighed and looked out the window.

“I don’t even remember, Sam.”

Rayner smiled and patted Sebastian’s shoulder.

“I understand how you feel. Before I married Mikha, I was just as stubborn. But it turns out love can come from things we never planned.”

Sebastian shook his head slightly.

“But being set up feels weird. I feel like I don’t have control over my own life.”

Samuel tilted his head, thinking for a moment.

“You’re completely wrong if you think that. You still have control. This is just an introduction, not a wedding tomorrow afternoon. There’s nothing wrong with opening your heart a little.”

Rayner added,

“Especially since you don’t have a girlfriend. You’re not cheating, no scandals. So why not give this arrangement a chance?”

Sebastian fell silent. Their words struck him.

He then spoke softly,

“I’m just afraid, what if I can’t love her?”

Rayner smiled and looked him in the eyes.

“That’s exactly why you meet her, Bro. Feelings can grow. Love takes time. It doesn’t always happen instantly like in romantic movies.”

“Ha-ha-ha. Exactly!”

Samuel laughed in agreement.

“And you also know your dad, Mr. Ganendra, isn’t just anyone. If he’s setting you up, the girl must be something special.”

Sebastian turned to Samuel and looked at him skeptically.

“Something special? What do you think, I’m buying instant noodles?”

“Ha-ha-ha.”

Samuel laughed loudly.

“Well, who knows? Maybe she’s as beautiful and smart as our wives.”

Rayner grinned.

“I agree with Samuel.”

“But the point is this, Bro. I know you want to live life on your own terms. But sometimes, the best choices come from things you never planned.”

Sebastian nodded slowly. His heart began to calm. He knew Samuel and Rayner were not ordinary people, they were successful, experienced, and true friends. Maybe they were right.

“Okay. I’ll wait for the weekend. I’ll meet that girl. But not because I’m obeying my dad, because I’m giving my heart a chance,” Sebastian said firmly.

Rayner smiled proudly.

“Now that’s the Sebastian Ronaldo I know.”

Samuel stood up and stretched his arms.

“Finally! Our stubborn CEO has softened!”

Sebastian gave a wry smile.

“Relax, Bro. It doesn’t mean we’ll be compatible. If she’s more interested in stocks than books, we might break it off immediately.”

“Ha-ha-ha.”

Rayner laughed.

“If she can make you smile like that, she’s already one step ahead.”

Sebastian looked out the window again. Jakarta was still gray, but his heart had begun to accept things. Maybe that meeting this weekend would open a new chapter in his life, a chapter he never planned, but perhaps the most important one.

The next day.

A minimalist café on the ground floor of one of the largest malls in Jakarta had been crowded since ten in the morning. The clinking of glasses, the aroma of coffee, and the chatter of customers blended into a pleasant background noise.

Diandra sat in a corner near the window with a glass of matcha latte. Her hair was tied in a low ponytail, and her face looked tired despite a light layer of concealer. Not long after, two of her close friends appeared, Deborah, wearing a simple black dress, and Mikha, an energetic woman with glasses and a mini backpack slung over her shoulder.

Mikha spoke while pulling a chair and sitting down,

“Sorry I’m late! The traffic coming out of the toll road was crazy!”

Deborah smiled gently while patting Diandra’s hand.

“Finally we will meet again after you come back from the Netherlands! How's jet lag?”

Diandra forced a smile.

“The jet lag is gone, but another kind of headache has arrived.”

Mikha raised an eyebrow and placed her backpack on the table.

“What kind of headache? Tell us.”

Diandra sighed deeply and stirred her drink while looking out the window. It took a few seconds before she spoke.

In a soft voice, Diandra said,

“I’m going to be set up, Mik, Deb.”

“What?”

Deborah gasped.

“Seriously? You just got back a week ago!”

Mikha leaned back dramatically.

“Wow, classic. Arranged marriage still exists these days, huh?”

Diandra nodded slowly.

“And not just anyone. It’s my dad’s business colleague’s son. His name is Sebastian Ronaldo.”

Mikha, who didn’t realize that Sebastian was her husband’s business associate, leaned forward curiously.

“Sebastian Ronaldo? That sounds like a celebrity name!”

Deborah suddenly became serious.

“Wait. Sebastian Ronaldo? The CEO of SR Corp?” She also didn’t know he was her husband Rayner’s business partner.

Diandra shrugged helplessly.

“I don’t know. I don’t know him at all.”

Mikha gently tapped Diandra’s hand.

“But if it’s him, that’s not bad news. I mean, he’s handsome, successful, still young, and not a playboy. What are you afraid of?”

Diandra rubbed her face with both hands.

“I’m afraid because I don’t know him, Mik. We’ve never talked, I don’t know his personality, and I don’t want to get married this soon. I just came back to Indonesia I want to work and gain experience first.”

Deborah looked at her gently.

“Dian, I really understand your position. I also never expected to marry young with Rayner, but God made a way through a simple meeting and we matched. Sometimes, good things come in forms we never expect.”

Mikha sipped her iced latte and added,

“Yeah. Try to think positively first. Who knows, he might be a nice person? Just get to know him first. It’s not like you’re getting married right away, right?”

Diandra clicked her tongue softly.

“But my dad already seems so sure that I’ll match with him. It feels like my life is completely controlled by him.”

Deborah smiled wisely.

“Maybe he just wants to make sure you’re happy in his own way. Our perspectives may differ, but his intentions aren’t bad, right?”

There was a brief silence. Diandra sighed.

Suddenly, Mikha tapped both of her friends’ shoulders energetically and stood up.

“That’s enough drama. Let’s walk around the mall! So you can forget about Sebastian Ronaldo who’s making you anxious!”

“He-he-he.”

Deborah laughed softly.

“I’m in. As long as Diandra stops frowning.”

Diandra smiled faintly and stood up as well.

“Okay, but not too long. I have a cooking appointment with my mom later this afternoon.”

The three friends walked along the mall corridors.

They stopped at several stores, looked at the latest dresses, tried new perfumes, and laughed when Mikha jokingly tried on extremely high heels that almost made her fall. Deborah picked out some sleepwear, while Diandra tried to hide her smile behind her anxious expression.

Mikha held up a navy dress toward Diandra.

“If you really have dinner with Sebastian later, wear this. Elegant but not too flashy.”

Diandra laughed softly.

“Oh Mik, you …”

Deborah jokes,

“But seriously, you need a battle outfit for a first impression. Don’t look forced.”

After two hours of walking around, they decided to watch a movie. Mikha had already booked tickets for a popular Indonesian comedy film. Diandra hesitated at first, but eventually joined.

Inside the cinema, it was dark, and laughter echoed throughout the room.

The movie was truly hilarious. The acting was natural, the dialogue was fresh, and the comedic scenes successfully made the audience laugh out loud. Diandra, who initially sat quietly, slowly began to laugh along. She even tapped Mikha’s shoulder when one scene made her stomach hurt from laughing.

Amid her laughter, Diandra said,

“Okay, I didn’t expect this movie could make me forget all the drama in my life.”

Mikha patted her shoulder.

“See! Sometimes life needs a bit of comedy so our brains don’t explode.”

Deborah smiled happily seeing Diandra laugh again.

“See? Sometimes you just need friends to remind you that life isn’t that bad.”

The movie ended. They walked out of the cinema with bright faces and renewed energy. Even though Diandra knew her arranged marriage issue wasn’t over, at least today her heart felt lighter.

Standing in front of the elevator, Diandra looked at her two friends.

“Thanks, you two. Honestly, I’m still scared about everything, but maybe I can go through this slowly.”

Deborah nodded.

“Take it slowly, but keep going. Who knows, this arrangement might not be a curse but the most beautiful gift from God for you.”

Mikha winked mischievously.

“And if he turns out annoying, we’ll kidnap you and take you to Bali.”

Diandra laugh freely.

“Ha-ha-ha. Deal.”

The elevator doors opened. They stepped inside, laughing together.

And for the first time since returning to Indonesia, Diandra no longer felt alone.